Chapter 5, Covert Warfare

Chen Nan carefully stored the Dragon Ball and retraced his steps, not wanting to linger for even a moment, fearing that the little demon princess behind him would catch up. He climbed a high mountain and, looking far away, saw that the little princess and her companions were still at the volcano's crater. He let out a sigh and said, "Hoo—I've finally escaped from the nightmare of the little demon."

The originally radiant Dragon Pearl gradually dimmed, ultimately retracting its brilliance completely, with its color shifting from golden yellow to emerald green, transforming into an ordinary pearl

Chen Nan lowered his head to look at the shimmering Dragon Ball in his hand, hesitating for a long time, and finally sighed, "But I really cannot accept this! I, Chen Nan, do not need 'grace'!"

Chen Nan exclaimed inwardly: Impossible, a substantialized sword energy! Isn't this the mark of a master-level expert? How could such a person be willing to serve under someone else?

However, good fortune seemed to always elude Chen Nan. On the afternoon of the third day, he was leisurely following behind a group of people when suddenly, seven or eight figures sprang out from around him, surrounding him completely. From their sharp gazes, it was evident that each person was a master, and the chilling aura of murderous intent emanating from them suggested that each had experienced battles of life and death.

The Third Prince chuckled, "Hehe, Princess Yu is overthinking it. The main reason I came here this time is that I heard a Qilin divine beast has appeared in the Luofeng Mountain Range. I want to try my luck and see that legendary beast."

The little princess said, "Oh, I see. I didn't expect the news to spread so quickly that even the Third Prince, who is far away in the Moonlit Kingdom, knows about it."

The young gentleman said: "How do you prove it?"

The one who can withstand the powerful spiritual impact of heavenly materials and earthly treasures must be an extraordinary individual. In addition to possessing an exceptional physique, one must also have an indomitable spirit. How can such a person endure the torment of eternal hopelessness? Ultimately, they will self-destruct.

The little princess sighed and said, "Alas! I really want to see what that qilin looks like, but unfortunately, I have no opportunity to do so"

Two days later, Chen Nan could not help but marvel at the wonders of fate, as he unexpectedly encountered the little princess once again. Now, only ten people remained in the little princess's entourage. During the battle against the giant serpent, a total of four guards and two apprentice mages had perished, and the survivors were all severely injured, with their wounds yet to heal.

Chen Nan self-deprecatingly remarked: "For someone like me, whose martial arts have stagnated, perhaps swallowing the Dragon Pearl is the best choice, after all, this is a chance to leap over the dragon gate like a carp."

Heavenly materials and earthly treasures may instantly grant a person immense power, transforming them into an unparalleled master. However, with gain comes loss; when one acquires the coveted skills, it also signifies the permanent forfeiture of the qualification to strive for the title of the strongest. The power obtained from the outside world shackles the development of his own strength, becoming an unbreakable chain that he can never overcome

sizzle

I am a hunter, and I can certainly prove it with the abilities possessed by a hunter. Chen Nan bent down, picked up a handful of sand from the ground, brought it to his nose, and said: "I am certain that within a radius of three miles, there is no other large wild beast except for a female tiger."

Oh, are you really sure?" the young gentleman asked

He cried out in his heart: Demons of hell, quickly take away your descendants

He pondered for a moment and said: "Young master, if I were to claim that I am an ordinary hunter who has learned martial arts, you would surely not believe me. However, I can prove it to you."

It is clear that you do not trust me

The Third Prince and the Little Princess, along with their respective groups, walked together towards the mountains. Chen Nan, at the back of the line, secretly felt relieved that the Third Prince had engaged the Little Princess, preventing her from noticing him hiding behind the group. However, the good times did not last long, as a guard from the little demon's entourage soon discovered him, the bound captive. One of the guards rushed forward and whispered a few words to the little demon.

Chen Nan Dao: "mhetushucomcom wouldn't be this extreme, would it?"

Chen Nan explained, "I am a lost hunter, wishing to follow behind you and find my way out of this great mountain."

At first, the Third Prince could not understand why the little princess of Chu suddenly became excited. He couldn't help but secretly speculate whether Zhuge Chengfeng had arrived nearby. Later, following the little princess's gaze, he finally discovered the "source" of her excitement, which turned out to be the prisoner they had captured the day before.

Princess Yu, you are too polite

Chen Nan had been wandering in the mountains for three days, and he awkwardly realized that he was lost. The endless mountain ranges stretched infinitely, and if he could not find his way back soon, he would have no choice but to live as a wild man in the mountains.

The burly man wielded a large sword, both wide and long, and after approaching, he swung it down towards Chen Nan. Chen Nan hurriedly dodged to the side, causing the man's first strike to miss. The second strike followed swiftly, the blade emanating a faint azure glow as it slashed diagonally at Chen Nan's waist.

Is this a blessing from heaven for me

Not far away, Chen Nan heard it clearly and couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion. In just a few days, amidst the vast mountains, he unexpectedly encountered a princess and a prince.

Indeed, we encountered an ancient giant on our way to the Luofeng Mountains. Fortunately, the old man arrived just in time; otherwise, it would have been truly dangerous. The little princess looked visibly shaken.

The little princess said: "Your Highness, the Third Prince, is occupied with state affairs; how could you possibly come here for no reason? After all, this place is close to the border of our Chu State, which inevitably raises suspicions."

The little princess, leading a group of severely injured guards, felt quite uneasy upon encountering the third prince of the Baiyue Kingdom. She did not believe this was a mere coincidence; the most likely scenario was that he had been waiting here all along. In order to protect herself, she first took the initiative to launch an aggressive attack, leaving the third prince unable to discern her true intentions. Subsequently, she inadvertently mentioned Zhuge Chengfeng, which made the third prince wary. However, the third prince was no ordinary person; although he felt uncertain, he did not retreat but instead intended to follow her closely to further investigate the truth. These two could be said to be "full of nonsense" and "talking nonsense".

Chen Nan felt a chill run through his body, and he lowered his voice to say: "Your Highness, the Princess, let us make a deal."

The little princess lowered her raised palm and scrutinized him carefully, saying: "It seems I really underestimated you. I didn't expect that you, this scoundrel, actually have some wits. However—I'm feeling quite displeased right now due to the delay in the transaction, and I need to vent my frustrations!"

Chen Nan Dao: "Perhaps... perhaps he intends to present Her Highness the Princess as a gift to someone else"

The young gentleman also wore a broad smile: "Indeed, I did not expect to see Princess Yu here."

The Third Prince Qi Dao: "Your Highness, why do you say such a thing?"

You need not concern yourself with this matter; everyone knows that this Third Prince is not a person of debauched lifestyle

After careful observation, he finally confirmed that these were a group of strangers, and it seemed that they were trying to find a way out of the mountain. For the next two days, he quietly followed behind this group of people

A wisp of light smoke rose gently from the distant mountains and forests, and Chen Nan was overjoyed, moving forward to investigate. When he was a hundred zhang away from the smoke, he stopped. He did not dare to rush forward recklessly; if it turned out to be the group of the little princess, he would have no place to die.

You, a disgrace, boasted during the day about wanting to make a deal with me, yet in the end, you were unable to help at all. Heh, this is fine; I can now deal with you without any reservations. You have no idea how difficult it has been for me to find you these past two days; I almost wish I could skin you alive right now.

"No wonder this guy keeps glancing at the box behind me; he actually has his eyes on our national treasure, the Hou Yi bow. This is truly infuriating." The little princess clenched her small fists and said, "You scoundrel, haven't you come up with a countermeasure yet?"

The young gentleman said: "First, let's detain him. I sense that this person is extraordinary. I didn't realize he was a martial artist until he made a move."

Although the giant serpent failed to transform into a dragon, it has nonetheless reached the semi-dragon realm. The power within it is composed of half serpent attributes and half dragon attributes. The shattered inner elixir was formed from the essence within its body, concentrating all its vitality—half serpent essence and half dragon essence. When the inner elixir shattered, all the serpent essence dissipated into the air, but the dragon essence did not vanish; the pure dragon essence gathered together, forming a dragon pearl

Ten thousand years ago, Chen Nan's family background determined that he must become a strong individual. However, his cultivation had always been stagnant, and his low power was the root of his suffering. He had longed for powerful strength, and now the opportunity was right before him, yet he hesitated. He was not afraid of being unable to withstand the overwhelming force of the dragon's power and dying from it; at this moment, he recalled a conversation he had with his father.

From the disjointed phrase "Third Young Master," Chen Nan has already sensed some "nuance," further confirming that this person is certainly not an ordinary individual

Chen Nan felt very strange; the power of the materialized sword energy could not possibly be this weak. Even an ordinary sword energy would be much stronger than this strike

On our way to the Falling Wind Mountains, we encountered my master, who said it was too dangerous and insisted on sending me back, which was truly disappointing

This is strange; apart from Her Highness the Princess, what else could compel the Third Prince to take such risks? Wait a moment...

Who among the hunters dares to venture deep into this mountain range

This cannot be blamed on me. A clever woman cannot cook without rice. The princess's guards have all been severely injured, and there are no soldiers available now. What can I do? I think it would be better to directly give the Hou Yi bow to the Third Prince. Those who know how to adapt to the situation are... heh heh. Seeing a hint of a cold smile at the corner of the little devil princess's mouth, Chen Nan hurriedly stopped speaking and forced a laugh.

The Third Prince said: "It is said that when the Qilin appears, a sage will emerge; the manifestation of this divine beast has already shocked the world. This matter has been widely discussed across the continent."

No, I must escort you out; otherwise, I will feel uneasy.

Ah... the tragic cries of Chen Nan echoed through the forest, interspersed with the triumphant laughter of the little demon princess. In the distance, the Third Prince and others exchanged glances, gaining a deeper understanding of this rumored little witch.

From the age of sixteen to twenty, he felt that living was exhausting, and he even had thoughts of ending his life. During this period, he was filled with confusion. However, deep within his heart, there always existed a belief; he firmly believed that one day he would break free from the shackles and overcome the current barriers to his cultivation. This belief was the driving force behind his relentless practice of the family’s secret arts.

It is that old man

"Go to hell." The little princess punched Chen Nan hard on the head.

I am certain

A young man responded, "Yes." He led a few people into the depths of the forest to search.

What is the relationship between the Kingdom of Baiyue and the State of Chu

"It is truly fortunate! Hmm, this mountain range often has monsters appearing. Without some skilled protectors, it would not be safe for you. How about this: I will escort you out of the mountains." The Third Prince said with a sincere expression.

On the day when Her Highness the Princess shot the giant serpent with the Hou Yi bow, as the golden arrow pierced through the sky, it must have been witnessed by the Third Prince

The Third Prince glanced at the little princess's guards and said, "Princess Yu, are your subordinates injured? Why does each of them look so pale?"

Although the Dragon Ball is small in size, it contains pure and powerful dragon energy, making it a priceless treasure

Is it the Western way of fighting? After carefully observing the stance of the strong man as he drew his sword, he confirmed his thoughts.

He began his second captivity life with the book Chen Nan, but this time the "treatment" was clearly much better than the first. At the very least, no one treated him as private property, and occasionally expressed their "excitement" towards him. This group of people was very disciplined, with no unnecessary words, only that young master occasionally whispering a few words to the person beside him.

Senior Zhuge is renowned throughout the world, possessing extraordinary martial arts skills that transcend the ordinary. He is one of the predecessors and masters I admire the most

Chen Nan sighed softly in the ancient continental language from ten thousand years ago: "In every era, the strong are revered. After my martial arts cultivation has regressed, I am destined to endure various unpleasant experiences. A tiger falling to the plains is bullied by dogs!"

If that is truly the case, then I cannot obtain it

The little princess said angrily: "This old man is so worried, afraid that I will sneak back again, he has been following me all the way."

Looking at the little princess's wicked smile, Chen Nan couldn't help but shiver. "Your Highness, I did not mean to spy on you... after your bath..."

The little princess laughed and said, "Perhaps this old man has already heard and is now hesitating whether to truly accept you as his disciple"

After being reborn after ten thousand years, Chen Nan's martial arts cultivation still showed no signs of progress, but the heavy pressure from his family had completely vanished. After a year of adjustment, he had integrated into the current society. He had liberated himself from the pain of the past and restored his original nature

The little princess said, "I had a feeling from the very beginning that they would be detrimental to me, but I did not understand why they had such motives"

Swallowing it down, perhaps in an instant I will become a strong person, or perhaps I will immediately explode and die, but in either case, I have lost the qualification to become the strongest.

Several masters charged forward, pressing their sharp blades against various vital points of Chen Nan. If he were to resist so many experts alone, it would undoubtedly be like an ant trying to shake a tree, so he did not fight back. He bitterly smiled to himself, having just escaped the clutches of the little princess, only to become a captive of others.

Perhaps today I missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but I will never regret it

Before the age of sixteen, he was praised as a martial arts genius, with his skills advancing at an astonishing rate, earning him the title of the "best among his peers." However, this marked the beginning of his nightmare. No matter how hard he worked, his cultivation could no longer progress, and even the family’s secret technique fell from the second level of the Great Vehicle realm to the mid-stage of the first level. Watching his peers surpass him one by one, he felt an immense sense of loss and bitterness. Although he vaguely suspected that the drastic decline in his martial arts skills was related to certain "external factors," he was at a loss to uncover the truth.

Looking back on the past, Chen Nan felt a sense of loss

Upon hearing these words, the little princess's eyes nearly blazed with fire, "Ah, you despicable scoundrel, you dare to mention ... I will kill you"

The little princess said, "The relationship between the two countries has been relatively good in recent years, and there have been no unpleasant incidents."

The Third Prince said: "Princess Yu's words are still as sharp as ever. I cannot bear the weight of the accusation of 'arbitrarily trespassing into another country's borders.' If I remember correctly, this mountain range in the central region of the Tianyuan Continent should not belong to any nation."

Hou Yi's Bow

Hehehe... The little princess looked at Chen Nan, her face filled with joy

The young gentleman clapped his hands and said, "Stop"

A pale blue edge cleaves a shallow groove into the ground

From the tone in which he commanded his subordinates, it was evident that he was a person accustomed to giving orders. Chen Nan speculated that this young gentleman must be a person of significant standing.

The little princess recalled the filthy words spoken by Chen Nan earlier, her body trembling with anger as she exclaimed, "Make a deal with me? On what basis? You must be dreaming."

This is strange. If that is the case, why would they want to harm the princess?" After pondering for a moment, Chen Nan smiled and said, "I understand now; they intend to commit an act of violence here.

The people ahead all turned back, totaling more than twenty individuals. The leader among them was a young man, who appeared quite handsome and exuded a subtle aura of dominance. He scrutinized Chen Nan from head to toe and frowned, asking, "Who are you? Why are you stealthily following us?"

Alright, Yang Chong, take a few people to have a look nearby

The young gentleman standing beside coldly laughed and said: "Do ordinary hunters possess such excellent martial skills? If you do not speak the truth, you will have no place to be buried after ten moves."

A glint of cold light flashed in the little princess's eyes as she smiled and said, "Thank you, His Highness the Third Prince, but there is no need to trouble you. My old ghost master will take good care of us."

With a bruised face, Chen Nan was quietly exchanging opinions with the little demon princess inside a tent. The two had already confirmed that their encounter with the Third Prince and others in the forest was no coincidence; everything was premeditated, and these individuals had long been waiting along the path out of the mountain.

A glimmer of brilliance flashed in the Third Prince's eyes as he said, "Could it be the esteemed Zhuge Chengfeng?"

At that moment, Chen Nan felt that darkness enveloped the earth, and the sky lost its color

Oh, it seems that the elder truly cares for you, fearing that something might happen to you said the Third Prince with a smile

A full moon hangs high in the sky, its bright light cascading in large swathes like pure white feathers across the forest. The night breeze gently carries the faint fragrance of flowers and grass, enveloping the entire mountain forest in a silvery glow. From a distance, it appears simple, hazy, harmonious, and tranquil

Hearing Chen Nan compare her to a gift, the little devil princess glared in anger and coldly said, "You scoundrel, your words are truly unpleasant. Do you not know who you are speaking to?" However, she quickly calmed down, pondered for a moment, and said, "The possibility is almost zero."

Although Chen Nan did not fully agree with his father Chen Zhan's views, he also found some merit in them

The little princess glared at him fiercely, the meaning unmistakable; the threat and intimidation compelled him to cooperate

When the little princess saw the young nobleman and his companions, she was taken aback, her brows slightly furrowing, but in an instant, she revealed a radiant smile: "The Tianyuan Continent is truly small; I never expected to encounter His Highness the Third Prince here."

Is that so? If that old man hears it, he will surely be delighted, and he might even take you as his apprentice

In just the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, a tiger's roar echoed from a distance. Before long, a few individuals dragged back a dead tiger.

Your Highness, Princess Yu, there is no need to be polite with me. In such matters, both emotionally and logically, I must escort you out. Moreover, it is not certain that Senior Zhuge has truly followed us.

The little princess approached Chen Nan with a face full of excitement, smiling cheerfully. Undoubtedly, this was the most genuine expression she had shown since meeting the Third Prince. However, Chen Nan would rather see her false smile than witness the heartfelt smile she wore at that moment

The young man glanced at the dead tiger, smiled faintly, and said: "It seems that you are indeed a hunter. However, I still have some questions. It takes at least three days to walk out of this mountain; did you really chase that white deer for three days and nights?" After saying this, the young man's tone turned cold, and he shouted: "Bind him up for me."

I unknowingly stumbled here while hunting a white deer, and as a result, I cannot find my way back

After the halo of genius faded, countless mocking voices surged from behind him, yet he found himself unable to utter a word. The external public opinion and the family's mission weighed heavily upon him. The immense pressure felt like a heavy mountain pressing down on his heart, and his inept performance led him to believe that he was an ordinary person, unworthy of being born into such a family

The fierce slashes of the Han Dynasty struck again, forcing Chen Nan to engage in battle with the Han. The layers of fighting spirit surged one after another, and the pale blue brilliance put Chen Nan in a perilous situation

Under the eaves, one must bow their head. Chen Nan hesitated for a moment, then helplessly said: "Please punish me, Your Highness the Princess"

The little princess, seeing that she could no longer decline, showed a look of gratitude on her face and said, "Then I shall trouble the Third Prince."

The young gentleman pointed to a burly man beside him and said: "You, go."

The little princess smiled and said: "Why has the Third Prince left the royal city of Baiyue to come to the border of our Chu State? Is he here to send an envoy to our country? It seems unnecessary to come all the way to the deep mountains for that purpose."

Hou Yi's Bow

"I know him, of course I do," the little princess gritted her teeth and said. "He is a little eunuch who was brought out from my palace, originally meant to serve me. I didn't expect that when he encountered the ancient giant, he was the first to run away. Little Li, you didn't expect to see me so soon, did you?"

In the path of seeking power, the strong do not fear solitude; they fear being forever stagnant.

Chen Nandao: "Even if one cannot become the strongest, having the opportunity to become an unparalleled master is still quite good."

Chen Nan was very clear about the function of this orb. Within one hour, the Dragon Pearl is activated. If it is swallowed during this time and the individual can withstand the immense impact of the dragon's power, then the person who consumes the Dragon Pearl can absorb about thirty to forty percent of its essence, achieving unparalleled strength. If the Dragon Pearl is not consumed by any person or animal within one hour, it will quickly lose its luster, and the powerful dragon energy will all be concentrated in the core of the pearl. The outer layer of the Dragon Pearl will become incredibly hard, impervious to weapons below the level of celestial treasures, which means that the formidable dragon energy within the pearl cannot be easily extracted. If the Dragon Pearl is not consumed by any person or animal within one hour, it will quickly lose its luster, and the powerful dragon energy will all be concentrated in the core of the pearl. The outer layer of the Dragon Pearl will become incredibly hard, impervious to weapons below the level of celestial treasures, which means that the formidable dragon energy within the pearl cannot be easily extracted.

The Third Prince smiled and said, "Since you are the servant of Princess Yu, please handle it as you see fit, Your Highness." After saying this, he turned and left

Chen Nan shouted, "Stop, I said"

Chen Nan winced in pain and said softly: "Am I not currently assisting Your Highness in the analysis? How can Her Highness the Princess be so agitated? Moreover, it is not impossible that this could happen."

The Third Prince's face flashed with a look of surprise and doubt, and he smiled, saying: "Hehe, how could that be? Didn't Senior Zhuge already head towards the Falling Wind Mountain Range? Even if he possesses extraordinary martial arts, it would be impossible for him to hear words from hundreds of kilometers away"

Golden light pierced through countless trees and fell to the ground, where a dazzling golden orb rolled to Chen Nan's feet. He observed everything clearly, excitedly crouched down, and picked up the golden orb. The orb shimmered with flowing light, and its peaceful radiance brought him a sense of tranquility. Regarding the legends of dragons, Chen Nan was well-versed, and the golden orb before him held no secrets.

I appreciate the kind intentions of the Third Prince, but we truly do not need your escort. We are already at the edge of the mountains, where there are hardly any monsters appearing

Chen Nan was almost fainting, as he was actually referred to as a eunuch

"Dragon Ball, this is truly the Dragon Ball!" Chen Nan exclaimed

Chen Nan observed everything clearly and couldn't help but sigh at how the two were indeed born into a world of intrigue and rivalry within the imperial family, having completed a round of "psychological warfare" in just a short moment

Chen Nan and the little princess exclaimed together, and they simultaneously came to a realization

Despite his shock, he still managed to evade it at the first moment

The great Han stood with his sword drawn, facing Chen Nan, and said: "Come on, kid, you actually managed to take over twenty of my moves."

One of the young master's subordinates said: "Third... Third Young Master, why tie him up? Why not just kill him directly?"

The Third Prince was taken aback and began to speculate wildly about Chen Nan's identity. He cleared his throat and said, "This person has been following us sneakily on the road. Later, he was captured by my subordinates. Does Your Highness recognize this person?"

Zhuge Chengfeng is actually not here; the Third Prince wants to deal with you. " Chen Nan quickly uttered these words before the little devil's hand came crashing down.

As the great serpent transformed into a dragon, just at the moment when its inner elixir shattered, countless golden rays shot out in all directions, yet no one noticed that one beam of golden light flew off into the distance